What business instant messaging offers the best features for the price?

As of my last update in October 2023, several business instant messaging platforms offer a range of features at competitive prices. The best choice often depends on your specific needs, such as team size, integration requirements, and desired features. Here are some popular options that are generally well-regarded for their features relative to price:

1. **Slack**:

- **Features**: Channels, direct messaging, file sharing, integrations with numerous apps, video calls, and advanced search capabilities.

- **Pricing**: Offers a free tier with limited features; paid plans start at a reasonable monthly fee per user.

2. **Microsoft Teams**:

- **Features**: Chat, video conferencing, file sharing, integration with Microsoft 365 apps, and collaboration tools.

- **Pricing**: Free version available; paid plans are included with Microsoft 365 subscriptions, which can be cost-effective for businesses already using Microsoft products.

3. **Google Chat**:

- **Features**: Direct messaging, group chats, integration with Google Workspace, and collaboration tools.

- **Pricing**: Free for personal use; part of Google Workspace for businesses, which offers various pricing tiers.

4. **Discord**:

- **Features**: Voice channels, text chat, video calls, and community features. Originally designed for gamers, it has been adopted by many businesses for its flexibility.

- **Pricing**: Free version available; Discord Nitro offers additional features at a low monthly cost.

5. **Mattermost**:

- **Features**: Open-source platform, self-hosting options, channels, direct messaging, and integrations.

- **Pricing**: Free self-hosted version; paid plans for enterprise features.

6. **Rocket.Chat**:

- **Features**: Open-source, customizable, channels, direct messaging, video conferencing, and integrations.

- **Pricing**: Free self-hosted version; paid plans for cloud hosting and additional features.

7. **Flock**:

- **Features**: Channels, direct messaging, video calls, file sharing, and integrations with various tools.

- **Pricing**: Free version available; paid plans are generally affordable.

8. **Zoho Cliq**:

- **Features**: Channels, direct messaging, file sharing, and integration with other Zoho products.

- **Pricing**: Free tier available; paid plans are competitively priced.

When choosing a platform, consider factors such as user interface, ease of use, security features, and how well it integrates with other tools your team uses. It's often beneficial to take advantage of free trials to assess which platform best meets your team's needs before committing to a paid plan.